Tag Archives: Holika Dahan

Jaipur witnessed a royal ceremony of Holika Dahan at the City Palace Jaipur with HH Sawai Padmanabh Singh and Rajmata Padmini Devi.

The evening of March 01, 2018 also hosted the launch of the album return to Rajasthan by the ‘House of The Gypsies’ presented by PDKF (Princess Diya Kumari Foundation)

The City Palace in Jaipur is one of the best privately conserved palace complexes in India. Built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh and his dynasty between 1729 and 1732 A.D. Since Independence, it has been the residence of Jaipur royal family and a large part of the complex is open for visitors.

The vibrant festival of colors – Holi is back this month (23rd and 24th March 2016). This festival is celebrated in all of India, heralding the arrival of spring and giving adieu to winter. Spring season symbolizes a new beginning, fresh and optimistic start to life.

The colorful festival of Holi has a mythological significance attached to it.

DAY 1 (23rd March 2016):

On the eve of Holi, people light bonfire to mark the occasion of evil spirits in a ritual called Holika Dahan. Prahlad, a young follower of Lord Vishnu was forcefully taken into the burning fire but escaped the fire which proved to be a miracle. This was thus regarded as the triumph over evil.

DAY 2 (24th March 2016):

The next morning, people celebrate the victory with vibrant colors, singing, dancing, eating delicacies and celebrate the joyous moment of life by socializing with everyone. People dance to the beats of drums, sing, play games, drink bhanng and enjoy the festival in full energy and spirit.

The royal courts of Jaipur and Udaipur in Rajasthan play this festival in their unique style by throwing colors with tourists and visitors from all around the world. The entire region is painted in colors as no one minds getting colorful on this day as people shout – Bura Na Mano, Holi Hai!

Holi – the festival of colors – is undoubtedly the most fun-filled and boisterous of Hindu festival. It’s an occasion that brings in unadulterated joy and mirth, fun and play, music and dance, and, of course, lots of bright colors!

Holi has various legends associated with it. The foremost is the legend of demon King Hiranyakashyap who demanded everybody in his kingdom to worship him but his pious son, Prahlad became a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashyap wanted his son to be killed. He asked his sister Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap as Holika had a boon which made he immune to fire. Story goes that Prahlad was saved by lord himself for his extreme devotion and evil minded Holika was burnt to ashes, for her boon worked only when she entered the fire alone.

Since that time, people light a bonfire, called Holika on the eve of Holi festival and celebrate the victory of good over evil and also the triumph of devotion to god. Children take special delight in the tradition and this has another legend attached to it. It says that there was once an ogress Dhundhi who used to trouble children in the kingdom of Prithu. She was chased away by children on the day of Holi. Therefore, children are allowed to play pranks at the time of ‘Holika Dahan’.

Scheduled for March 27, 2013, the Festival of Holi infuses vibrancy and enthusiasm amongst people in India and abroad. A large number of tourists are attracted towards this grand affair of Holi celebration. Holi, the colourful festival is more popular in villages than they are in cities. People from far off villages specially move down to the village holding the Holi Fair a week before the festival. It serves as a full entertainment package for young children and elders. One can visualize the craze and love to celebrate the colorful festival with the enthusiasm among the people.

The colourful state of Rajasthan plays Holi much the same way as Mathura. A night before the full moon, crowds of people gather together and light huge bonfires to burn the residual dried leaves and twigs of the winter. People throw coloured water and powders (gulal and kumkum) at each other and make merry. Singing, dancing and the traditional beats of dhol add to the gaiety of the occasion.

On this day even the royals of Rajasthan don a festive spirit and mingle with the commoners. Infact, royal courts all over North India have refined the festival into an art. Rajput warriors of the Rajasthani courts used to show off their equestrian skills during the festival. Even today, Rajput men would ride their steeds through the white and pink clouds of colour, throwing colour powders on each other. Even the members of the royal families are not immune from being drenched by colour.

Another important attraction of the Holi is the traditional drinks of Bhaang and Thandai. People love to taste the traditional drink and enjoy the excitement of Holi till late afternoon followed by traditional luncheon and dinner with friends and relatives….